Pencil sharpener



July 18, 1950 v. R. ABRAMS PENCIL SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1947 July 18, 1950 V. R. ABRAMS PENCIL SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1947 Patented July 18, 1950 PATENT OFFICE 2,515,174 PENCIL SHARPENER Victor R. Abrams, Rockford, Ill., assignor of onehalf to George E. OLeary, Rockford, Ill.

Application November 28, 1947, Serial No. 788,514

(Cl. 1Z0-96) 22 Claims.

This invention relates to pencil Sharpeners, and'has for its principal object the provision of a portable device adapted to be placed on top of a desk, or wherever it is to' be used, as distinguished from the conventional stationary type that is rfastened permanently to the wall.

Another important object of my invention `is to provide a pencil Sharpener of the type in which a rotary frame carries two helicalcutters that have gears on one end thereof working in a stationary internal gear, so that the cutters turn on their axes as they are revolved, the rotary frame, in accordance with the present invention, being supported on a base for operation on a vertical axis, and having drive means connected to the vertically disposed drive shaft thereof, arranged to be operated by downward pressure on a spring returned oscillatable operating lever, as distinguished from the rotation of `a crank on the conventional type.

In the preferred form, the drive means consists of a flexible wire cable, which is wrapped around and is arranged to transmit drive frictionally to the drive shaft in only one direction upon downward thrust of the operating lever, the wire cable slipping relative to the shaft when returned by the same spring that returns the operating lever. Otherwise the drive means, in order to permit the kind of push-down operation described, necessitates the use of a pawl and ratchet mechanism between the drive means and the rotary frame. 4

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind mentioned, in which the operating lever is so connected or related to the drive means that there is maximum leverage at the commencement of the down stroke to set the rotary frame in motion, and thereafter leverage is so related to the resistance to turning and the increasing resistance of the return spring that the device operates with substantially uniform pressure on the operating lever throughout the operating stroke. This result is obtained in one way with the wire cable form of drive means, and in two other ways where racks and pinions combined with pawl and ratchet means are used.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portablev desk model pencil Sharpener made in accordance with `my invention; v

`ysharpener on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the Sharpener with the cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified or alternative construction;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of still another construction;

Fig. 6 is an isolated plan view of the drive means for the device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 'l-l of Fig. 4 to better illustrate the drive means used in that form;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, showing the return spring ior the operating lever, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are two views of the pawl and ratchet connection between the drive means and the rotary frame in Fig. 4.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring rst to Figs. l to 3, the reference numeral II designates the supporting base for the pencil Sharpener, on which a cover I2 of suit'- `able form and suitable material is mounted to enclose the pencil sharpener mechanism and at the same time provide a chip receptacle. An opening may be provided in the base, or in the cover, with a closure that is slidable or rotatable to and from a closed position to enable dumping chips from time to time, or the cover itself may be removed for that purpose, whichever is preferred. An L-shaped bracket I3 is suitably secured to the base I I, and has a block I4 suitably secured to the upwardly projecting arm I5 thereof, on which is supported the stationary base I6 for the cutter mechanism. This mechanism consists of a rotary frame Il carrying a pair of spaced cylindrical helical cutters I8 disposed in the usual diametrically opposed lconverging relation on opposite sides of the tubular holder end I9 of the frame Il, as in the well known conventional stationary pencil sharpeners, the cutters IB having drive pinions 2l) on their lower ends meshing with an internal gear ring 2l ixed in the base I6, so that when the frame I'I is turned by means of its downwardly projecting spindle end 22, that is coaxially arranged with respect to the holder I9 and extends through th-e bearing portion 23 of the base I6, the cutters I8 will turn on theiraxes as they revolve with the frame and will accordingly sharpen the lower end'of the pencil 24 inserted'vertically in the holder I9, as shown in Fig. 2, the pencil being held in the hand of theoperator against turning during the sharpening operation, when no other means is provided for that purpose. The spindle 22, in.

,3 other words, corresponds to the spindle on the conventional stationary sharpener, to which the usual hand crank is attached, and the base It corresponds to the stationary frame of such a device. However, in accordance with my invention, the spindle 22 has a wire cable 25 wrapped around it preferably two or three times to serve as a frictional drive means, one end of the cable being fastened to a take-up arm 26, which is spring pressed in one direction by a torsion spring 2l, and the other end portion of which extends over a pulley 23 mounted on the operating bell crank 29 and is fastened at its extrem-- ity, as at 3U, to the arm I5 of the bracket I3; The take-up arm 26 is pivoted inthe bearing 3l on the bracket i3, and the spring 2l has its coiled portion surrounding the bearingl; and" has the upper end extending therefrom for connection, at 32, with the take-up arm 26, and has the lower end extending therefrom for connection, as at 33, with the bracket I3. The operating bell crank 29'is pivoted at 34 ina bearing'35 on the upper end of the arm l5, andzhas the pulley 28 rotatably mounted,` as' at"35', yon the lower end of the downwardly projecting'arm 36 thereof. The other arm 3l of the bellcr'ank lever 2Q extends through a vertical slot`38'provided in the cover l2, and has a suitable operating knob 39 vfixed on the projecting end thereof, as illustrated in Fig. l. A curved'sheet'metal baffle plate i6 is provided on the base Iiion'that side toward the slot '38, to prevent chipsl from being thrown from` the cuttersv I8 through the slot 38 in the operationV ofthe pencil Sharpener, the cutters lS'being Voperable within'the arc deii'ned by the baille plate Mil In'thatw'ay'all of the chips produced in the operation of the pencil Sharpener are collected inside the'device' and there is no messing up of the desk top. The vtop opening M through which' the p'encirhol'der I9 extends freely is so located that it`r'equires 'no protection and is too small, anyway," to' permit escape of chips through it; l

In operation, a pencil is' insertedvertically'into the holder I9; point end down, and is'h'eld' by l the operator with one hancl'while 'he'fd'epresses the knob with'the other'ha'ndj The'd'epression of the knob 39, of course; cause'sleverES vto be oscillated from the full' linepositionv shown'j'in Fig. 2 toward the` dottedlline'position', thereby turning the spindle 'throug'h'the medium of the wire cable 25 Vthat is wrapped arounditan'd'; ac'- cordingly, turning'the rotary 'frame ll'to'revolve the cutters I8 around the point end of 'the pencil. The cutters I8 having theirpinions 2''operatin'g in the internal ring gear 2| "turn on their axes as they revolve with the frame todo the cutting, as inoth'er pencil sharpener's.' The drive occurs only in one direction, namely, on' the down' stroke ofthe knob 39. turns the cable to its initial position' andthe lever 29 with it, because there' is so little'resistance to the sliding of the cable25 relative 'to the spindle 22 aorded by the lever 29 in the return movement in relation to the resistance afforded by the pencil Sharpener mechanism and the fric'- tion of the cutters against the pencil, the' cable accordingly slides freely around the spindle in the return movements. It is important`to'note in Fig. 2 that the point of attachment' ofthe cable to the bracket 13,'at 3i), is so located 4with respect to the lever 29 that in the rst ten' or fifteen degrees of movement ofthe lever .from the full line position toward thedott'ed'line position, the pulley 28 does not turn, and,` hence, the lever The take-up arm' 26"merely' re- ,z

29 exerts its maximum mechanical advantage as it pulls forward a length of cable equivalent to the lineal measurement of the movement of the pulley 28 with the lever 29. This maximum mechanical advantage is important, because there is maximum resistance to turning the pencil sharpener mechanism at the start of each sharpening operation. After the initial ten or fifteen degrees of movement of the lever *29,y when the attached end portion of the cable 25' passes the plane indicated by the dot and dash line a-b (Fig. 2), the pulley 28 Will turn as the lever 29 is moved further, because from that point on twice as much cable length is payed out for a given lineal movement of the pulley 28 with the lever 2Q, and, while that necessarily involves an increase in the speed at which the resistance of the spring is built up, it does not result in any noticeable increase in resistance to depression of the knob 39, because through this particular angularity of movementof the' lever 29,' the' devi'ce'is "operating through the mostfavrable angularity in so far as the position of" the' take-'up' arm' 2li" is concerned. In explanationof :this 'last statement, attention isV called 'to Fig. 3 in 'which the take-up arm 26 'is shown.' in` its' fullyretracted' position where the spring-2lv exerts" minimum resistance to Vmovement ofthe arm 26, In'the'initial move- `ment`of'the lever; the' pull on'the 'arm' 2t is in the direction indicated 'by'th'ecable 25 in'Fig. 3,' and obviously; the 'lever ZS'operates in this initial movemen't on the" shortest moment arm, which, however,'"in'creases` the farther the' knob SS-is depressed. Hence," by the time' the arm 2t has moved throu'ghabout 45 in a' counter-clockwise direction, the' pu'll'of "the'cable'l is at a most advantageous angle; and'this advantageous range corresponds to'theend range of'movement ofthe lever 2S itothe extreme position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.' Consequently,'the operator is'not vaware'of any perceptib'ledifference in resistance' to 'movement of 'the knobA 39 at any pointin 'the stroke, and the voperation is accordingly' very' smooth. Two or three downward strokes on the knob Sgareusual-ly enough to resharpen a pencilf The'operation takes no longer withY this-device than .withthe old crank type. Theicable 25=is'not apt to' befouled bythe chips and pencil lead deposited iny the'l Sharpener, whereas gear mechanisms 'of Swh'atever design are subjectto that possibility. This f drive mechanism, is moreover, much moreileconomical to manufacture,I and' will last indeiinitelywithout lubrication'.-

. In Fig; 5, I have shown a modified or' alternativer construction, inrwhich the bracket Ida has an operatinglever 29a, pivoted thereon at Sila, and arranged to operate a.Y gear sector 42- that ispivoted-at 43 to thestationary baseltd of the Sharpener mechanism, and meshes with a pinion I4-'suitably mountedl .on the pin 46a., and arranged to transmit driver to the rotary frame Ila of -the cutter=mechanism.througha suitable pawl andratchet drive connection; like. that shown inrFigs. 9 and 10. A-roller G5; mounted'on a pin 45, projecting from the side of the'lever'` ZSa, is arranged to engage an arm M projecting from the `gear sector 42,-whereby to operate with'maximum' mechanical advantageat fthe'start of the sharpeningoperation and' with less and less leverage thereafter; as'c'an'be'seen fromia coinparison of the full line'po'stion'of th'ep'arts with the dotted line. position. shown in Fig'.' 5; A return 'spring' ZIa'has itscoile'd` portion' surrounding the pivot pin 43, and* has "oneend33c'z fixed to the base Ita, and the other end 32a attached to thev gear sector 42, so as to return the gear sector to the startingY position and the lever `291i with it when the knob on the outer end of the lever 29a is released at the lowerend -of the stroke, In this Sharpener, as in the Sharpener of Figs. l to 3, a curved baffle plate 40a is preferably provided on the base lSa on that side toward'the slot 38a in the cover 12a, to prevent escape of chips through the slot in the operation-*of the Sharpener. The pencil to be sharpened is inserted in the holder lSa, similarlyv as in the Sharpener previously described, and the sharpener mechanism is supported on the bracketlSal by the block 14a. It is believed that the operation of this sharpener needs no explanation, in view of the similarity to the construction first described. i

The Sharpener shown in Figs. 4 and 7 to 10 involves the use of an elongated pinion 48, arranged to be turned by means of a rack-0.9 that meshes with it and is pivotally connectedfat 5l), with one arm 35h of the-bell crank operating lever h, which, in turn, is pivotally mounted, as at 34h, on the upwardly projecting arm |5b. or" the bracket |35, the other arm 37b of the lever 29h being equipped with a knob, like the knob 39 (Fig. 1), for depression of the operating lever. 'lhe other end of the rack 49 is pivotally connected, as at 5l, With a link 52 disposed in parallel relation to the arm 36h, and pivotally mounted at its other end, as at 53, on the stationary base |51) of the Sharpener mechanism. This base IBD is supported on the bracket i317, as shown at Ib. A spring 2lb surrounds the. bearing for the pivot 34h, and has one end 33h anchored on the bracket |319 and theother end 32h connected to the arm 35h of the lever 2gb to return the lever to the starting position at the end of each operating stroke. should be manifest that the operating lever 29h operates with maximum mechanical advantage at the start of the stroke, due to the position of the rack 49 in such closely spaced relation to the pivot 34h at the start. 29h is depressed farther and farther, the rack 49 is slid farther and farther down on the pinion 48, meanwhile, of course, turning the pinion by reason of the accompanying endwise movement of the rack. The pinion 48 is carried on a pin 54,- suitably xed at its lower end in the bracket |319 and supported at its upper end in a-bearing hole provided in the lower end of the drive spindle 22h, which transmits driveto the rotary frame Ilb of the cutter mechanism, similarly as in the construction of Fig. 5. The spindle 22h is attached to a cupped disk 55, which has its recessed face down, to provide a shielded mounting for the pawl 55, to prevent fouling of the pawl by chips and lead in the operation of the Sharpener. The pawl 55 is spring pressed toward engagement with the pinion 48 by means of a spring 51, which is coiled around the pivot pin 58 of the pawl, and has one end connected to the pawl and the other end anchored to the disk 55. In the downward strokes of the lever 29h, the pinion 48 is turned in a counterclock- Wise direction as viewed from above, as indicated by the arrow 59 in Fig.- 9. Drive is, therefore, transmitted through the pawl 56 and disk 55 to the spindle 22D, which, in turn, transmits drive to the rotary frame Hb, similarly as the spindle 22 of Fig. 2 drives the frame I1. In the return strokes of the lever 25h, the liinion l5 is, of

- course, turned in the opposite direction and over- Here again, it;

Then, as the lever runs the pawl 5$,.so that'drive is transmitted to the Sharpener mechanism only in thev down strokes of the lever 29h. The operation ofthis Sharpener, it is believed, does not require any further discussion, in view of the general similarity in this construction to the others.v

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of all of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a View to covering all legitimate modiiications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure providing thereon a pivot, a drive spindle mountedfor rotation in a bearing on said frame in right angle relation to said pivot, cutter means carried on one end of said spindlev to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operatively connecting said lever and Spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the strokes of said lever in one direction for turning said spindle, whereby the cutter means is adapted to be turned intermittently in onedirection.

2. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure providing thereon a substantially horizontal pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation in a substantially vertical bearing on said frame, cutter means carried on the upper end of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the down strokes of said lever for turning said spindle, whereby.` the cutter means is adapted to be turned intermittently in one direction.

3. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure providing thereon a pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation in a bearing on said frame in right angle relation to said pivot, cutter means carried on one end of said spindle to turn therewith, a

- manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the strokes of said lever in one direction for turning said spindle, whereby the cutter means is adapted to be turned intermittently in one direction, said means operating with different mechanical advantage in different portions of the operating stroke of the lever, the greatest mechanical advantage being ai'orded in the rst portion of each stroke.

4. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure providing thereon a substantially horizontal pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation in a substantially vertical bearing on said frame, cutter means car ried on the upper end of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the down strokes of said lever for turning said spindle, whereby the cutter means is adapted to be turned inter mittently in one direction, said means operating with different mechanical advantage in diilerent portions of the operating stroke oi' the lever, the greatest mechanical advantage being afforded in the rst portion of each stroke.

5. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure providing thereon a pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rot vtion in a bearing on said frame in right angle relation to said pivot, cutter means carried on one end of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually voscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the strokes of said lever in one direction for turning said spindle, whereby the cutter means is adapted to be turned intermittently in one direction, and spring means tending to return said lever to a starting position at one end of its stroke.

v6. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, V.a supporting frame structure providing Y Vthereon va substantially horizontal pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation `in a substantially verticallbearing on said frame, cutter means carried on the upper end .of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative only on the down strokes o said lever for turningsaid spindle, whereby the cutter means is adapted to be turned intermittently in one direction, and spring means tending to return said lever to a starting position at the upper end of its stroke.

7. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, ra cutter frame rotatably mounted on said .base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having .a downwardly extending drive spindle, rotating and revolving cutters carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, means for rotating said cutters while they are revolved with said frame, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, and means operatively connected with said drive spindle and with .said lever to turn said spindle for cutting action only on the ydown strokes of said lever.

8. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, rotating and revolving cutters carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, means for rotating said cutters while they are revolved with said frame, `a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, and means operatively connected with said drive spindle and with said lever to turn said spindle for cutting laction only .on the down strokes of said lever, said means operating with different mechanical advantage in different portions of the operating stroke of the lever, the greatest mechanical advantage being afforded in the first portion oi each down stroke.

9. A pencil Sharpener comprising -a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, rotating and revolving cutters carried on said frame for operation on the end ofthe pencil, means for rotating said cutters while they are revolved with said frame, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, means operatively connected with said drive spindle and with said 8 lever to turn said spindle forcutting action only on the down strokes of said lever, and spring means tending to return said lever to a starting position at the upper end of its stroke.

10. A .pencil sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, a flexible belt element wound around said spindle, having one end portion operatively connected with said lever so as to be pulled upon each down stroke of the lever to turn the spindle in one direction for cutting action, and spring actuated take-up means connected to the other end of said belt to return the belt and lever to a starting position.

11. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, a flexible belt element wound around said drive spindle and having one end fixed with respect to said base, said lever having a portion bearing against the fixed end portion of said belt between the iixed end and the spindle and arranged to exert a pull on the belt upon each down stroke or the lever to turn the spindle in one direction i'or cutting action, and spring actuated take-up means connected to the other end of said belt to return the belt and lever to a starting position.

i2. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever .pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, a flexible belt element wound around said drive spindle and having one end iixed with respect to said base, a pulley rotatably mounted on said lever and engaging the fixed end portion of said belt between the xed end and said drive spindle, and arranged to move toward the fixed end and past it in the down strokes of said lever to exert a varying pull on the belt in each down stroke of the lever to turn the spindle in one direction for cutting action, and spring actuated take-up means connected to the other end of said belt to return the belt and lever to a starting position.

13. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base adapted to serve as a chip receptacle, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, means operatively connected with said drive spindle and with said lever to turn said,spindlei'orqcutting action,` a housing on said base for the mechanism described having a substantially vertical slot provided in the wall thereof through whichgthe manually engageable end of said lever extends for operation, and ,chip bafile means stationarily supported in said vhousing on that side of the cutter frame toward the slot.

14. A pencil sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a, pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drivev spindle, cutter meanscarried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, one-way drive means connecting the drive spindle with the cutter frame, a gear for turningl the spindle, a gearsector pivotally mountedwith respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis in spaced substantially parallel relation to the axis of said lever and meshing with said gear, and means operatively connecting said lever and sector to transmit rotary movement to the drive spindle so as to turn the cutter frame only on the down strokes of said lever.

15. A pencil Sharpener comprising a yportable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, one-way drive means connecting the drive spindle with the cutter frame, a gear for turning the spindle, a gear sector pivotally mounted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis in spaced substantially parallel relation to the axis of said lever and meshing with said gear, an arm extending from said sector and operatively engaged by a projection on said lever, so as to transmit oscillatory movement to the sector with decreasing leverage in the down strokes of said lever and turn said spindle so as to transmit drive to the cutter frame only on the down strokes of said lever, and spring means tending to return said segment and lever to a starting position.

16. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable sup-porting base, a cutter frame rotatably v mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for simporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried on said frame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, .a drive gear for transmitting drive to said spindle, one-way drive means operatively connecting the drive gear and spindle so as to turn the cutter frame only in one direction on the down strokes of said. lever, a rack. meshing with said drive gear, and means operatively connecting said rack with said lever.

1'7. A pencil sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base on a substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to be sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle, cutter means carried onsaidirame for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually l'oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, a drive gear for transmitting drive to said spindle, one-way drive means operatively connecting the drive gear and spindle so as to turn the cutter frame only in one direction onthe down strokes of said lever, a rack meshing'with said drive gear, and means includingr an extension of said lever for supporting saidy rack for endwise and vertical movement parallel to itself while operatively connecting said rack with said lever, said gear being elongated suiciently to remain meshed with said rack throughout itsrange ofv vertical movement.

18. A pencil Sharpener comprising a portable supporting base, a cutter frame rotatably mounted on said base cna substantially vertical axis and having means on the upper end for supporting a pencil to lie-sharpened and having a downwardly extending drive spindle,` cutter means carried on saidvframe for operation on the end of the pencil, a manually oscillatable operating lever pivoted with respect to said base on a substantially horizontal axis, a drive gear for transmitting drive to said spindle, one-Way drive means operatively connecting the drive gear and spindle so as to turn the cutter frame only in one direction on the down strokes of said lever, a rack meshing with said drive gear, means including an extension of said lever for supporting said rack for endwise and vertical movement parallel to itself while operatively connecting said rack with said lever, said gear being elongated suiiiciently to remain meshed with said rack throughout its range of vertical movement, and spring means tending normally to move said lever to a starting position.

19. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a base adapted to serve as a chip receptable, a supporting frame structure carried thereon and providing thereon a substantially horizontal pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation in a substantially vertical. bearing on said frame, cutter means carried on the upper end of said spindle to turn therewith, a housing on said base to enclose the mechanism described having a substantially vertical slot provided in the wall thereof, a manually operated lever oscillatingly turnable on said pivot and projecting outwardly through and movable vertically in said slot, the range of vertical improvement of the lever being substantially within the height of said housing, means operatively connecting said lever and spindle to turn the spindle in the oscillatory movement oi the lever, and means to return the lever to elevated starting position.

20. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a portable base, a frame rotatable on said base on a substantially vertical axis, rotating and revolving cutters carried on the upper end of said frame for operation on the end of a pencil to be sharpened, means for rotating said cutters while they are revolved with said frame. said frame having a downwardly extending drive spindle, a horizontal pivot on said frame, a housing on said base to enclose the aforesaid mechanism and having a vertical slot provided therein, a manually operated lever oscillatinglv turnable on said pivot and extending outwardly through the slot in said housing and movable vertically therein, means operatively connecting said lever with said spindle for revolving said spindle in response to the lever on the manually operated down stroke, and spring means to re- 11 turn the lever` to starting position without revolving the cutters.

21. A pencil Sharpener comprising, in combination, a supporting frame structure lproviding thereon a pivot, a drive spindle mountedV for rotation in a bearing on said Vframe in right angle relation to said pivot, cutter means carried on one end of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operativelyv connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be operative on the strokes of said lever for revolving Said cutters.

22. A pencil Sharpener comprising, ink combination, a supporting frame structure yproviding thereon a pivot, a drive spindle mounted for rotation in a bearing on said frame in right angle relation to said pivot, cutter means carried on one end of said spindle to turn therewith, a manually oscillatable operating lever turning on said pivot, and means operatively connecting said lever and spindle and so arranged as to be opera- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 532,999 Bacon Jan. 22, 1895 864,671 Myers Aug. 27, 1907 1,180,154 Johnson Apr. 18, 1916 1,682,169 Dougan Aug. 28, 1928 1,905,608 Schoenfeldt Apr. 25, 1933 2,307,119 Duany Jan. 5, 1943 2,338,263 Schaefer Jan. 4, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,515,174 July 18, 1950 VICTOR R. ABRAMS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 9, line 52, for the Word segment read sector;

and that the said LettersPatent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Olice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

